I just watched a movie named "Friday
Night Lights." It's based on a book by H. G. Bissinger that chronicles
head coach Gary Gaines (played by Billy Bob Thornton) and his winning
high school football team (the Panthers) from a small town in Texas.

Now, for those of you who don't live in
the southern part of the United States, you have to understand that
southern folks take football very, VERY seriously.

One could say there are two religions in
the Bible Belt—Christianity and football. And some would say there's no
difference between them. Everything is big in Texas and football is
HUGE.

The movie follows the coach and his team
in their quest of a state championship. Throughout the season, the coach
urges his players to "be perfect."

There's a lot of pressure on the
Panthers—from parents, from the town fathers, the coaches and from the
players themselves. It seems like winning is everything—especially the
Texas state championship.

The most inspiring part of the movie for
me was the half-time speech Coach Gaines gives his squad in the locker
room at the state championship. The Panthers are behind, and they must
turn the tide in the second half in order to win.

Only a couple of these players will ever
suit up for another football game again. It's an experience they'll
remember for the rest of their lives. The competition is tough, and they
are far behind.

As if he needed to, Coach Gaines reminds
them about all of this. And then he tells them what he means by "being
perfect."

I may not have it EXACTLY the way he
said it, but I think I have the essence of his inspiring speech: "I want
you to know what I mean by being perfect. It's not about that scoreboard
out there. It's not about winning. It's about you and your relationship
with yourself, with your family and with your friends.

It's about being able to look your
family and friends in the eye, knowing that you didn't let them
down—because you told them the truth—that you did everything you
POSSIBLY could out there. There wasn't one more thing you could have
done.

Being perfect is living as best you
can—with clear eyes, with love in your heart, with joy in your heart.
And it lasts forever. Can you live in that manner? If you can,
gentlemen—then you're perfect."

Whether we're playing a game, building a
business or raising a family, we would do well to go after all our goals
and dreams with that kind of heart—with that kind of commitment.

Action PointIf you're not playing full out, either choose something that's more
worthy of your best efforts or recommit to what you're doing. You may
want to rate yourself on the go-for-it-scale in each of your endeavors.
Whatever you do, resolve to do your best. And "be perfect."